The Forrest City times., 1887-11-12
CHAPTER l.
DEEPER THAN EVER.

"I.isten to me. Mrs Grey am grieved tlat you should be so bitterly distress ed,' said the duchess; what is more, 1 will not distress you any further. Let me tell you why We are so anxious 10 know in what manner you have pos session of the locket. You have heard me speak of my beautiful and gentle young mother, who died so tragical a death. My father, Lord Star. had two lockets made, they were exactly alike in every detail, and they were both set in diamonds; my father gave one to my mother and one to me-"
 "Wait one moment" said Mrs. Grey, as she laid her hand on the duchess's arm.
 The memory of It overpowered her; she turned sick and faint at heart. The bare walls Of the cell disappeared; she was once more on the sunlt terrace, the white acacia leaves falling around her, the crimson passion-howers at her feet: she saw the deep blue sky over her head, and the golden light of the sun; the birds were all singing: Darcy Este stood by ner side, and Little Sunbeam" now beautiful, stately duchess, wan in her arms. She can see her husband with the lockets in his hand, the sun shining on the costly gems; she can see the pictured eyes, so tender and so kind, she can see little Sunbeam stretch out her hand for the locket. and hear her husband laugh as he gives it to her. No wonder that a low cry comes from her lips as she begs the duchess to go on.
 "As I was saying" resumed the duchess, ''my mother took my locket for me, and put it away, she wrote on the paper, as you have heard, "For my daughter Ethel when she is old enough to know her fathers face.' That locket I have cherished above every other worldly possession; 1t was stolen from ne with the rest of my jewels, and ii has been returned to me with them. My mother, SO my father tells me, often wore her locket; he remembers seeing the diamonds shining on her neck. The strangest thing is, that my aunt Lady Holte, who lived with us then declares that my mother wore that chain and locket on the night she left home for that fatal journey to London. How you are trembling, Mrs. Grey"
 It was the very pallor and weakness of death that seemed to come over her.
 ''I will not say any more, If it dis tresses you;"said the duchess.
 ''I pray you go on." was the answer. Better to know the whole truth at once to know if they were on the right track of the secret or not.
 'sIhe question is this. If my mother left home with that locket on her neck, how does it come into your pos session more than seventeen years afterward? That is the mystery which puzzles us-it not only puzzles us, but makes us unhawpy. If you could have seen the passion of longing, and love, and pain that came into my fathers face when we were trying to under stand 1t"
 Gradually as the duchess spoke. Mrs. Grey had risen from her knees, and the di gnity of . great sorrow fell over her- the weariness and despair left her face. As at the time of her trial, light and radiance came over It that cio not seem to be of this world at all.
 "You see now. Mrs. Grey, Of what vital importance it is to us to know how my mothers loeket-the one she had on her neck when she died-came into. your hands. You can understand that out of respect to my dear mothers memory. we are most desirous to un- derstand it. My father says that nothing was ever seen of the locket and chain at the time of the accident although my motAer's watch and chain were found upon her.
 Again the prison walls faded away, and sine was in the darkened tunnel-a thousand voices crying, Lady Stair ii dead! Lady Stair is dead 7"
 The clear sweet voice went on --" NY father says there are many ways In which it can be accounted for. It is possible that while she lsy-pooI mother-in Clifie Railway station, they nav have been stolen from her, and sold or pledged. We do not want to hurt or to punish any one, but We wish to know the simple truth. It may be that 1t was sold afterward, bought by some one. and presented to you: Tell IS the truth abou. 1t. pledge my word to you that nothing shall come ! oi anything yoa may say' goa fear e